ROAD-RUNNER Brendan Powell produced a top performance to win the race for the President's Prize at County Armagh Golf Club.
His 41 stableford points was the outstanding score on Dr Oliver Woods' President's Day, with a host of golfers on 40 points in a photo finish for the runners up prize.
President's Day competition winner Brendan Powell is presented by his prize by County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods.
A familiar figure pounding the roads around the city and district, Brendan, a ten handicapper, set the early pace completing his round on Friday. His front-running effort with 20 and 21 points, front and back nines respectively, was however, never to be overtaken. And after the final golfers crossed the finishing line late Saturday evening, the brightly Brendan was declared the winner.
Ideal conditions, blazing sunshine and a course deemed as magnificent by all 220-plus golfers who took part, reflected the exceptional scoring over the two-day event.
A young harpist played for the guests at the traditional coffee morning hosted by the President and his family on Saturday as the main field of golfers trekked off. And after an evening meal with guests and friends in the clubhouse Green Room Restaurant, the Good Doctor presented his prizes.
He was also delighted to announce monies in lieu of gifts raised a magnificent £1,080 and fittingly was to be donated to the Medecins San Frontieres charity, an international medical humanitarian organization.
Paddy Loughran proposed the vote of thanks to complete the official part of the evening before celebrations began in earnest, traditional music entertaining members and guests into the wee small hours.
For the purists, Nicky Currie was the closest to catching winner Brendan in the competition itself, returning 40 points. Paddy Hicks who finished with a double bogey, and Ian Beaddie returned similar scores of 40 points and deservedly picked up Category One and Category Two prizes respectively. Aidan McParland won Category 3.
Colm Shannon completed a hat-trick of Council and Committee prizes with 39 points and Pat McAleavey won the Past Captain and President's prize.
The Overseas, Country, 18-24 age-group was won by Lee Stewart and the Visitors Prize by Terence Woods.
Nicola Spence was the best of the Ladies with Ellen Brady runner up. And Berry O'Doherty won the Senior Ladies 9-hole competition.
There were also prizes for the juvenile members – Jamie McKenna winning the Junior Boys and Jamie Calvert the Senior Boys. Aoife Lourdan won the Girls 6-hole competition and Blaithin McReynolds was winner of the 9-hole competiton and President's Cup.
Dr Oliver Woods celebrated his President's Day at County Armagh Golf Club in the company of wife Ceceila (seated centre) and family members.
County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods is pictured with President's Day competition runners up Aidan McParland and Paddy Hicks.
County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods congratulates Council and Past Captains' and Presidents' prize winners Colm Shannon and Pat McAleavey.
County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods is pictured with President's Day Visitor's Prizewinner Terence Woods.
County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods is pictured with ladies prize winners in his President's Day competition, from left, Ellen Brady, Nicola Spence and Berry O'Doherty.
County Armagh Golf Club President Dr Oliver Woods congratulates juvenile prize winners in his President's Day competition, from left, Jamie McKenna, Jamie Calvert, Aoife Lourdan and Blaithin McReynolds.
Enjoying the coffee morning at County Armagh Golf Club President's Day are, Dougie Somerville, Rodney Villiers, Pierce McBride and Eric Hamilton.
Walter Neville and wife Mabel are pictured at the County Armagh Golf Club President's Day coffee morning.
John White, Bee and Noel Gordon enjoying the coffee morning at County Armagh Golf Club's President's Day.
County Armagh Golf Club Captain Richard Black, with wife Ann and Colette McAleavey, pictured at the coffee morning on President's Day.
Taking a break during the coffee morning on President's Day at County Armagh Golf Club are some of the lady members who helped host the event, from left, Berry O'Doherty, Audrey Kellett, Helen McLaughlin, Hilary Johnston and Paula McCrory.